Health Insurance Registration Renewal Regulation (Alta. Reg. 129/2026)

Alta. Reg. 129/2026

Alberta — Regulations

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(no amdt) ALBERTA REGULATION 129/2026 Health Insurance Premiums Act HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION Table of Contents 1

Definitions 2 Renewal of registration 3 Duty and authority to renew regis tration — combined certificate, identification card, operator’s licence 4 Duty and authority to renew registration — other 5 Certificate of registration 6 Notice of requirement to renew 7 Notice of renewal 8 Notice of cancellation 9 Notice in electronic form 10 Reinstatement of registration 11 Normal expiry date 12 Expiry date — spec ial circumstances 13 Return or surrender of Ministe r-issued physical certificate 14 Return, surrender or destruction of found, recovered or damaged certificate 15 E x p i r y 16 Coming into force

Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “combined certificate” m eans a document deemed under

section 23.7 of the Act to be a certificate of registration that is in the form of an identification card or an operator’s licence that displays a resident’s personal health number; (b) “dependant” means a dependant as defined in the Health Insurance Premiums Regulation (AR 217/81); (c) “identification card” means an identification card issued under

section 17(2) of

Schedule 12 to the Government Organization Act and includes a receipt issued on

Section 2 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 2 application for an identification card or a renewal of an identification card; (d) “Minister-issued mobile cer tificate” means a certificate of registration in an electronic form approved by the Minister under

section 23.6(2)(

a) of the Act; (e) “Minister-issued physical certificate” means a certificate of registration in a physical form approved by the Minister under

section 23.6(2)(

a) of the Act; (f) “operator’s licence” mean s an operator’s licence as defined in the Traffic Safety Act and includes an interim operator’s licence and a final operator’s licence issued under that Act; (g) “Plan” includes a Plan as d efined in

section 1(

u) of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act and a Plan as defined in

section 45(

p) of that Act; (h) “registry agent” means a registry agent as defined in

Schedule 12 to the Government Organization Act. Renewal of registration 2(1) A resident shall apply to renew their registration under the Act by providing sufficient information for the Minister to confirm that the resident continues to be entitled to be registered with the Minister.

(2) An application for renewal must be made (

a) in person with a registry agent, or (

b) in a form and manner determined by the Minister.

(3) Unless otherwise provided in this section, a resident shall apply to renew their registration no earlier than one year before the expiry date of the registration.

(4) A resident who holds or is applying for a combined certificate, identification card or operator’s licence shall apply to renew their registration at the same time as they (

a) apply for the identificati on card or operator’s licence, (

b) apply to renew the identification card or operator’s licence, (

c) apply for the combined certificate, or (

d) apply to renew the combined certificate.

Section 3 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 3

(5) A resident who holds a Minister-issued physical certificate that does not contain an expiry date may apply to renew their registration at any time.

(6) A resident may apply to renew their registration no earlier than 2 years before the expiry date of the registration if (

a) the resident does not hol d a combined certificate, (

b) the resident has notified the Minister in accordance with

section 31(3) of the Health Insurance Premiums Regulation (AR 217/81) that the resident intends to be temporarily absent from Alberta, and (

c) the resident’s current cer tificate of registration will expire during the temporary absence.

(7) Notwithstanding subsection (2), an application referred to in subsection (6) may only be made to the Minister.

(8) A person with a duty or authority to renew a registration on behalf of a resident may only renew the registration for the resident if the requirements of this

section are met.

(9) Before renewing a registration, the Minister must be satisfied that the resident continues to be entitled to be registered and the application meets the other requirements for renewal set out in this section. Duty and authority to renew registration — combined certificate, identification card, operator’s licence 3(1) This

section applies only where an application for renewal is being made by or on behalf of a resident who holds a combined certificate, identification card or operator’s licence or is applying for a combined certificate, identification card or operator’s licence.

(2) A registrant who has a dependant registered on the registrant’s account has a duty to renew the registration on behalf of the dependant if the dependant is under 18 years of age.

(3) A registrant has a duty to renew the registration on behalf of a dependant who (

a) is registered on th e registrant’s account, (

b) is 18 years of age or older, and (

c) is wholly dependent on the registrant by reason of mental or physical infirmity.

Section 4 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 4

(4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3), a registrant’s spouse or adult interdependent partner may renew their own registration.

(5) The registrant’s spouse or adult interdependent partner who is registered on the registrant’s account may renew the registration on behalf of a dependant of the registrant described in subsection (2) or (3).

(6) A person who has legal authority under another enactment to act on behalf of another person with respect to the application for or renewal of an identification card or operator’s licence may apply to renew the registration of that other person. Duty and authority to renew registration — other 4(1) This

section applies only where an application for renewal is being made by or on behalf of a resident who does not hold a combined certificate, an identification card or an operator’s licence and is not applying for a combined certificate, identification card or operator’s licence.

(2) A registrant who has a dependant registered on the registrant’s account has a duty to renew the registration on behalf of the dependant.

(3) A registrant who has a dependant who is not registered on the registrant’s account must not renew the registration on behalf of the dependant.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a registrant’s spouse or adult interdependent partner may renew their own registration.

(5) The registrant’s spouse or adult interdependent partner who is registered on the registrant’s account may renew the registration on behalf of the registrant and any dependant on the registrant’s account.

(6) A person who has legal authority under another enactment to act on behalf of another person may apply to renew the registration of that other person if doing so relates to the powers and duties of the legal authority.

(7) The Minister may renew the registration of a resident on being furnished with satisfactory evidence that (

a) the resident continues to be entitled to be registered, (

b) the resident is unable to r enew their own registration, and (

c) there is no other person with the duty or authority to renew the resident’s registration.

Section 5 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 5 Certificate of registration 5(1) A resident who is registered with the Minister may request a certificate of registration in accordance with this section.

(2) Subject to subsections (7) and (8), a resident who is registered must be issued a combined certificate if the resident is eligible for and requests a combined certificate, or applies for or renews an identification card or operator’s licence.

(3) A resident who is registered may request a Minister-issued mobile certificate by creating an account in an application or on a website administered by the Government of Alberta for the purpose of providing residents with their health information.

(4) A resident who is registered may request a Minister-issued physical certificate in the form and manner determined by the Minister if the resident is 18 years of age or older and (

a) the resident (

i) does not hold a combined certificate, and (ii) is not applying for a new identification card or operator’s licence, (

b) the resident is not eligible for an identification card or operator’s licence or the resident’s identification card or operator’s licence is not eligible for renewal, or (

c) the resident returns or surrenders their combined certificate, identification card or operator’s licence at the time of the request.

(5) A request for a Minister-issued physical certificate for a resident who is registered and under 18 years of age may only be made by a person with the duty or authority to renew that resident’s registration if the resident meets one of the criteria in subsection (4)(

a) to (c).

(6) A person with a duty or authority to renew a registration on behalf of a resident may request a certificate of registration for the resident if the requirements of this

section are met.

(7) A deemed resident, within the meaning of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Regulation (AR 76/2006), may not request or hold a combined certificate.

(8) The Minister may designate categories of residents who are not eligible to apply for a combined certificate.

(9) A resident shall not hold, at the same time,

Section 6 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 6 (

a) more than one Minister-i ssued physical certificate, or (

b) a combined certificate a nd a Minister-issued physical certificate.

(10) A resident may hold a Minister-issued mobile certificate at the same time they hold a Minister-issued physical certificate or combined certificate. Notice of requirement to renew 6 The Minister shall notify a resident, or a person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of a resident, of the requirement to renew and the date by which the registration must be renewed (

a) in writing by regular mail or in electronic form, and (

b) on or before the date that is 2 months before the expiry date of the resident’s registration. Notice of renewal 7(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister shall notify a resident that their registration has been renewed (

a) by issuing a Minister-i ssued mobile certificate or Minister-issued physical certificate containing a new expiry date, or (

b) in a form and manner determined by the Minister.

(2) With respect to a combined certificate, notice of renewal is provided by the issuance of the combined certificate containing a new expiry date. Notice of cancellation 8 If a resident’s registration is cancelled under

section 23.3 of the Act, the Minister shall notify the resident, or the person with a duty to renew the registration on behalf of the resident, of the cancellation in writing by regular mail or in electronic form. Notice in electronic form 9(1) A notice that the Minister is required to provide may be provided in electronic form by (

a) email to an email address provided to the Minister by a resident, or by a person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of a resident, for that purpose,

Section 10 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 7 (

b) text message or other el ectronic message to a mobile phone number or account provided to the Minister by a resident, or by a person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of a resident, for that purpose, (

c) notifying a resident that a notice is available in the resident’s account in an application or on a website administered by the Government of Alberta for the purpose of providing residents with their health information, or (

d) another electronic means approved by the Minister for that purpose, if so requested by a resident or person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of a resident.

(2) A notice provided in accordance with subsection (1) is deemed to be received by the resident, or by the person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of the resident, on the date the notice is entered into the applicable system used to provide the notice. Reinstatement of registration 10(1) If a resident’s registration is cancelled under

section 23.3 of the Act, the resident may apply to the Minister to reinstate their registration within one year from the date of the cancellation.

(2) A person with a duty or authority to renew a registration on behalf of a resident has the duty or authority to apply for reinstatement on behalf of the resident in the same manner.

(3) The Minister may reinstate the registration of a resident on being furnished with satisfactory evidence that (

a) the resident was a resident of Alberta continuously between the date of cancellation and the date of the reinstatement, (

b) the resident continues to be entitled to be registered, (

c) the resident is unable to apply to reinstate their own registration, and (

d) there is no other person with the duty or authority to app ly to reinstate the resident’s registration.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), a reinstatement must be effective from the date the registration was cancelled.

(5) On reinstatement, coverage under the Plan must not be provided during any periods the person was absent from Alberta, other than temporarily absent.

Section 11 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 8

(6) For the purpose of subsection (5), a person is temporarily absent if the person (

a) s t a y s (

i) in another province or ter ritory for a period that will not exceed 12 consecutive months, or (ii) outside Canada for a pe riod that will not exceed 6 consecutive months, a n d (

b) intends to return to and ma intain permanent residence in Alberta on the conclusion of the stay outside Alberta.

(7) A person who does not apply for reinstatement within one year from the date of cancellation may apply for registration under

section 22 of the Act and is not entitled to coverage under the Plan during the period after the date of cancellation and before the date the person is entitled to coverage on being registered in accordance with

section 22 of the Act. Normal expiry date 11 Unless

section 12 applies, a certificate of registration issued under

section 23.6 of the Act expires on the last day of the resident’s birth month 5 years after the year in which the resident’s registration was renewed. Expiry date — special circumstances 12(1) For the purposes of

section 23.6(2)(

b) of the Act, if a resident holds either a Minister-issued mobile certificate or a Minister-issued physical certificate or both, and is subsequently issued a combined certificate, the expiry date for the resident’s Minister-issued mobile certificate is the date of expiry of the combined certificate.

(2) If a resident holds a combined certificate and subsequently returns or surrenders it to obtain a Minister-issued physical certificate, the expiry date of the Minister-issued physical certificate must be determined in accordance with

section 11.

(3) The expiry date in subsection (4) applies with respect to a resident’s Minister-issued mobile certificate or Minister-issued physical certificate if (

a) the resident does not hold a combined certificate and the resident is 80 years of age or older on the date

Section 13 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 9 (

i) the resident becomes registered with the Minister, or (ii) the resident’s registration with the Minister is renewed, o r (

b) the resident does not hold a combined certificate and the resident is a member of a group designated by the Minister for the purposes of this subsection.

(4) A Minister-issued mobile certificate or a Minister-issued physical certificate for a resident described in subsection (3) expires on the last day of the resident’s birth month 10 years after the year in which the resident’s registration was renewed.

(5) The Minister may determine that an expiry date other than the date set out in

section 11 or subsection (4) applies to a resident’s Minister-issued mobile certificate or Minister-issued physical certificate if (

a) the resident does not hold a combined certificate and the resident is a deemed resident within the meaning of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Regulation (AR 76/2006), or (

b) the resident does not hold a combined certificate and the resident is a member of a group designated by the Minister for the purposes of this subsection.

(6) The Minister may designate groups for the purposes of subsections (3)(

b) and (5)(b). Return or surrender of Minister-issued physical certificate 13(1) When a resident is issued a combined certificate, the resident, or person with a duty to renew the registration on behalf of the resident, shall return or surrender to the Minister, a registry agent or another person authorized by the Minister, all of the following the resident holds: (

a) the resident’s Minister -issued physical certificate; (

b) a certificate of r egistration referred to in

section 23.96(1) of the Act.

(2) A combined certificate must not be issued to a resident or person who does not comply with subsection (1).

Section 14 AR 129/2026 HEALTH INSURANCE REGISTRATION RENEWAL REGULATION 10

(3) For greater certainty, nothing in this

section prevents the issuance of an identification card or operator’s licence to an individual who is not eligible for a combined certificate. Return, surrender or destruction of found, recovered or damaged certificate 14(1) If a resident’s certificate of registration is lost or stolen and the resident, or a person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of the resident, requests a replacement certificate of registration under

section 23.8 of the Act and the lost or stolen certificate of registration is later found or recovered, the resident or person shall forthwith return or surrender the found or recovered certificate of registration to the Minister or a registry agent, or destroy the found or recovered certificate.

(2) If a resident’s certificate of registration is damaged and the resident, or a person with a duty to renew a registration on behalf of the resident, requests a replacement certificate of registration under

section 23.8 of the Act, the resident or person shall forthwith return or surrender the damaged certificate of registration to the Minister or a registry agent, or destroy the damaged certificate. Expiry 15 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on July 1, 2031. Coming into force 16 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of

section 8(5) of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2).

Printed on Recycled Paper *9780779863181*

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Regulations
Citation	Alta. Reg. 129/2026
Type	regulation
Volume / chapter	2026 129
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f64a0f9ab7ba25f3946c5f494e5d6e0938941d19

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).